James mccoemick



(No Model.)

J. MGGORMICK.

VEHICLE SPRING.

No. 360,710. PatentedApr. 5, 1887.

. /TTEST INVENTOFL u. Pimm mumwmpher. www. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES MCCORMIGK, OF POTSDAM, NFV YORK.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

QPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,710, dated April 5. 1887.

Application filed December G, 1886. Serial No. 920,849. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs MoConMroK, of the town of Potsdam, county of St. Lawrence, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle- Springs,of which the followingis adescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings7 in which similar letters of reference repesent like parts, and in which- Figure l represents a perspective view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section through one of the springs,andFig.3 acentraltransverse section.

My invention has relation to certain new and useful improvcmentsin vehicle-springs of the class generally employed in sidespring buggies, light wagons, buckboards, Src., in which both wood and metal arc combined to form a composite spring.

To this end it consists in a certain arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully .de

eribed and particularly pointed out.

At or near the extremities of the forward head-block or bolster A, I fasten, by means of ordinary bolts or clips, the front ends of two preferably arched or upwardly-bent strips,B, of wood of elastic character. Upon the underside of each ofthese strips of \vood,throughont its entire length and in close contact therewith, is placed a leaf of steel,E. Each of these compound springs of wood and steel is also bolted or clipped to the rear a-Xle,D. The springs so formed of wood and steel are thus securely and rigidly attached both at front and rear to an unyielding portion of the body-gear or frame of the vehicle and make a firmly-supported but elastic cushion for the box or body. Upon the upper sides of the springs thus formed I now secure by a centrally-located through-bolt,e,or equivalent means,a series of steel leaves() each of diminishing length.

To further strengthen the frame or bodygear, I secure at points near the center, upon each side thereof, a light metal or wooden cross-bar, F F, by means of clips f passing wholly over and encompassing both t-he metal and wooden springs, and being fastened seeurely within the extremities of the cross-bars, respectively. Free longitudinal play is thus permitted to each of the individual members of the entire series of leaves above the wooden springs,but checking any tendency therein to lateral rack or strain and firmly holding them against overstrain upon the central throughbolts.

The head-block or bolster is mounted upon the forward axle in the usual manner. In the construction which I have herein described is provided, as will be at once apparent to those skilled in the art to which the improvement appertains, a spring-frame at once light,strong, elastic, and firmly braced. Full play is provided for'the elastic parts without the loose shackles heretofore employed, and in which the reboundl is not only unpleasant to the occupant of the vehicle, but is nearly always a source of accident and danger as well.

The wooden spring in the improvement described, being nfade somewhat broad,fulfills the various functions of a reach for the vehicle and a brace for the entire spring, preventing in substance all side sway of the body,as well as controlling most effectivelyV the rebound, with consequent liability of breakage, whenever the vehicle meets with a sudden jolt by reason of an obstruction in the road. At the same time the entire spring yields readily downward with a slow and easy movement,

the degree ofwhich is determined by the weight put upon it by reason of the lessened friction of the several members of the spring in their play upon each other. It affords, moreover,a ready and comparatively inexpensive frame or gear upon which to set the body or box of the vehicle.

It is manifest that certain changes might be made in the construction described, by which the functions and advantages pointed out would all be retained. These changes, coming within the scope of my invention, I wish it distinctly understood I do not hereby release.

It has been heretofore proposed to place beneath a metal-leaf side-spring,for the sake of securing firm shackle-bearings at ends thereof and giving increased longitudinal strength thereto, a double layer or layers of rubber or of composite rubber and cloth belting. To obviate some ofthe disadvantages which have been heretoforepointed out, a construction of springs has also been suggested in which a pair of metal-leaf springs centrally secured one upon the other are seated upon the under IOC side of a thick bar ofwood Within a longitudinal groove therein; but in this instance the grooved bar is relied upon to act as a stay or brace only to receive and distributethe action of the metal springs. In neither of the construct-ions thus proposed is a compound spring of thin highly-elastic Wood and metal firmly secured together at each extremity employed las a superstructure upon which rests a series of steel leaves centrally secured to the said superstructure, but free to play from that point to their extremities, whereby a very light,sen sitivelyelastic, and comparatively inexpensive spring is produced.

Therefore, what I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

l. A compound spring of Wood and steel secured together at each extremity and provided upon its upper face with a series of steel leaves, as set forth.

2. A compound spring of wood und steel securely attached at each extremity and provided upon its upper face Witha series ofsteel leaves centrally secured thereto, but with free extremities, as set forth.

3. A pair of longitudinal compound springs of Wood and steel securely attached at front and rear to the rigid parts of a vehiclegear,

as the front headblock and the rear axle, in combination with aV series of metallic leaves centrally fastened to the upper faces thereof, as set forth.

4. A pair of longitudinal compound springs of Wood and steel securely attached at front and rear to rigid transverse parts of avehiclegear, as the front headblock and the rear axle, in combination with a series of metallic leaves centrally fastened to the upper faces thereof, and with a cross-brace upon each side ofthe center of the said springs, as set forth.

5. A pair of longitudinal compoundsprings of Wood and steel firmly aflixed at front and rear to rigid transverse parts of a vehiclegear,

as the front head-block and the rear axle, in combination with a series of metallic leaves centrally fastened to the upper faces thereof, 

